MARTINSTOWN 272-7 (7pts) lost to PARLEY 278-4 (18pts) by six wickets

AN UNBEATEN century from Parley captain Alex Nippard guided the visitors to a six-wicket victory at Lower Ashton Farm.

Nippard survived two dropped catches before going on to score 111 not out as his side won the Dorset Premier League clash with 43 balls to spare.

Martinstown had earlier posted 272-7, which included a knock of 74 from skipper Ed Nichols.

“It was a lovely wicket and the outfield quickened up after the weather we had,” said Nichols.

“We thought 272 was a good total but knew it wasn’t an insurmountable one, as it proved.

“Parley played very positively with the bat, but we knew they would give us chances and we had to take them.

“We dropped their number three twice when he hadn’t scored many and then he went on to score most of their runs.”

Nichols and Lee House (22) put on 90 for the first Martinstown wicket, and then Liam Banfield (34) added 54 with his captain.

After Nichols was caught off the bowling of Callum Hewetson (3-51), Dave Herbert (32) and Ross Stewart (36) continued to lead the charge with some positive shots.

Matt Camp and Danny Way both added 15 towards the end.

The visitors’ reply began poorly when Chris Read trapped opener Harrison Clarke for a second-ball duck in the first over.

But then Hewetson (60) and Nippard went after the Martinstown attack and their second-wicket stand of 130 took the game away from Nichols’ men.

Banfield tied down one end in the middle overs and John Stewart (2-29) broke the partnership, but Nippard and Ollie Green (74) added a further 132. Nippard then saw his team over the line.